Monday Briefing from the Balkans: July 6, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Second phase of soft loan scheme opens, applications due by July 31, official says
TIRANA, July 6 – The second phase of the municipal soft loan scheme opened on July 1 after the completion of the first stage, a city official said. He said 2,500 applicants were approved in the first phase out of 4,909 applications. However, he added that several applicants were excluded …
Turkey at the centre of global diplomacy as Ankara hosts NATO Summit on 7 July, agenda revealed
TIRANA, July 6 – Turkey will host the 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government in Ankara on 7 July. The meeting takes place amid global uncertainty. Ankara last hosted a NATO summit in Istanbul in 2004. Meanwhile, the summit will gather 32 heads of state and government. …
Preza Castle: Where History and Nature Meet in a Peaceful Landscape
Just a few kilometers from Tirana, Preza Castle rises on a green hill, and it stands as one of the most distinctive historical and panoramic sites in the area. First, visitors reach the castle through a rural landscape, and they pass traditional houses and green hills that create a calm …
RTSH Governing Council head outlines reforms for RTSH Parliament channel, archives and auditing
TIRANA, July 6 – RTSH Governing Council Chairman Fatjon Hoxhalli said the public broadcaster is strengthening the structure of the RTSH Parliament channel as part of a broader effort to modernize its operations. Speaking at the parliamentary Committee on Citizens’ Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight, Hoxhalli said the channel has …
RTSH targets digital transformation, Director Vasili: Public media must be present wherever the audience is
TIRANA, July 6 – RTSH Director General Eni Vasili highlighted digital transformation as the public broadcaster’s main strategic priority during a parliamentary committee session reviewing RTSH’s 2025 performance. She said public media must reach audiences wherever they consume content. According to Vasili, the future of public broadcasting depends on a …
Ministry of Defence reports 16 wildfire hotspots across Albania, five active but under control
TIRANA, July 6 – The Ministry of Defence said 16 wildfire hotspots were recorded across Albania during the day under the coordination of the National Civil Protection Agency. Meanwhile, the ministry said five active hotspots remain under control. It added that operational structures continue work to fully extinguish them. Operations …
Velipojë: Well-Managed Public Beaches Offer Clean and Organized Conditions for Visitors
Velipojë beach, with a coastline stretching over 14 kilometers, remains one of the most visited destinations by both domestic and foreign tourists this summer season. First, authorities have expanded public beach areas and improved coastal management, which has significantly increased the number of visitors. Next, Prime Minister Edi Rama shared …
Parliament committee approves resolution on RTSH activity for 2025
TIRANA, July 6 – The Parliamentary Committee on Civic Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight approved on Sunday the draft resolution assessing the activity of Albanian Radio Television (RTSH) for 2025. Earlier in the session, RTSH Director General Eni Vasili said digital transformation remains a core institutional priority in cooperation with …
Today marks final deadline for National Agriculture Support Scheme applications
TIRANA, July 6 – Albania’s Agency for Agricultural and Rural Development (AZHBR) said today is the final day to apply for the 2026 National Agriculture Support Scheme after the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development extended the deadline. The agency said it will accept applications for all support measures until …
Prime Minister Edi Rama joined the Coalition of the Willing summit in Paris on Sunday at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. The summit brought together heads of state and government, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to coordinate international support for Ukraine. During the …
EU Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato called on young Albanians to defend their rights and take an active role in shaping their future. During the weekend, Gonzato met young participants at RinCamp, organized by the National Youth Agency. During the discussion, he stressed that young people are not only beneficiaries …
Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha strongly condemned Iran’s recent attacks on Gulf Arab states, calling them a violation of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. In a statement on X, Hoxha said the attacks further escalate tensions, undermine regional stability and pose a serious threat to international …
Defense Minister Ermal Nufi awarded the “Golden Medal of Military Service” to US Army Lieutenant Colonel Joshua A. Magnusson after he completed his mandate as head of the US Military Group in Albania. The medal recognized Magnusson’s contribution to strengthening the partnership between the United States and the Albanian Armed …
Governor of the Bank of Albania Gent Sejko met with a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led by its new Resident Representative in Albania, Hannes Takacs. During the meeting, Sejko presented the latest economic and financial developments in Albania and said the economy is expected …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said the “Open Balkan” initiative was considered “a terrible idea” only because he and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić backed it. “It was a terrible idea for one reason only: Vučić and I were behind it. If we removed our names and replaced them with five others, …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-6″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-6″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-14″ data-turn=”assistant”> Democratic Party Chairman Sali Berisha is attending the General Assembly of the Centrist Democrat International (IDC-CDI) in Brussels, where he serves as one of the organization’s Vice Presidents. The assembly has brought together political leaders, former presidents, Members of the European …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-7″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-7″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-16″ data-turn=”assistant”> Around 60 inmates at Drenova Prison are expected to be released under Albania’s new penal amnesty law, which is scheduled to be implemented on July 15. Under the amnesty, eligible male prisoners will receive a one-year sentence reduction, while eligible female …
Albania’s Ombudsman is carrying out an unannounced inspection on Monday and Tuesday at the Shënkoll Prison Institution as part of its mandate as the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture. According to the Ombudsman, the preliminary findings are deeply concerning. The inspection team identified severe overcrowding in accommodation facilities and a …
TIRANA, July 13 – Albania’s permanent parliamentary delegation took part in the 51st Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, held in Yaounde, Cameroon. Hatixhe Konomi led the delegation, alongside Ilirian Pendavinji and Luçiano Boçi. More than 300 lawmakers from 42 national, subnational and inter-parliamentary sections attended the session. …